Josh Bruce wants to play a role in the Western Bulldogs’ push for top four in 2020 and beyond

Josh Bruce has already experienced eight seasons without playing finals. Which is why a chance to join the resurgent Western Bulldogs and their young guns is so appealing. But how will the deal get done? 

Josh Bruce is ready to join the Western Bulldogs.

St Kilda forward Josh Bruce wants to join the Western Bulldogs’ top-four tilt in a bid to play in his first finals campaign next season.

Bruce, 27, has met with Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge and is excited about partnering spearhead Aaron Naughton as part of a new twin tower setup at the kennel in 2020.

While the four-year offer from the Dogs is a contract he cannot refuse, there is the added appeal of joining a club which could genuinely contend for next year’s flag.

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The Dogs are rated an $11 chance with TAB to win the 2020 premiership, while St Kilda has the second-longest premiership odds ($51) above only Gold Coast.

Bruce had not played in a final in his eight years in the league and is keen to end his finals drought at his third club.

The former Greater Western Sydney key forward has also enjoyed only one winning season (more than 50 per cent win ratio) – when the Saints won 12 games in 2016.

It means the chance to capitalise on one of the best young midfield brigades in the game alongside Naughton has significant appeal in the prime part of Bruce’s career.

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St Kilda is optimistic about its future and could yet become one of the biggest winners from this year’s trade period with grand plans to add Brad Hill (Fremantle), Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide), Dan Butler (Richmond) and Zak Jones (Sydney).  

But the Saints are in the midst of a significant transition and could yet take more time to mature into a genuine premiership candidate.

The Dogs were considered the most in-form team in the league late in the regular season before crashing out of the finals in an upset first-round loss to GWS Giants.

Josh Bruce is ready to join the Western Bulldogs.

Beveridge’s men have vowed to be aggressive players in the trade period and are expected to bolster the back half with the arrival of Adelaide key defender Alex Keath.

Dogs list manager Sam Power said the club wanted to bolster its spine.

“We’ve identified some key position players as really adding to our group and we’ll work through those conversations over the next week,” Power said.

Naughton is rated one of the most exciting young players in the game and Bruce could play a significant role alongside the youngster helping shoulder the goal kicking load.

Bruce is contracted for one more season at St Kilda, but the Saints are yet to offer the forward a contract extension beyond 2020.

The lack of a formal extension from St Kilda in recent months has made the Dogs’ position even more attractive.

St Kilda wants more than pick No. 32 from the Dogs to seal the deal, according to football boss Simon Leathlean.

"Getting on specifics is a bit hard, but right here, right now, I don't feel like pick 32 is appropriate for our biggest key forward who has got a year to go on his contract," Lethlean said.

"If they want to offer a four-year deal and big money, I don't think that's the right sort of pick.

"Time will tell. You don't want to put your stake in the ground too early. If we get other things done and it helps us get other things done, we'll wait and see.

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"But it doesn't feel quite right to me."

Bruce is determined to make the move to the kennel to help round out his career at his third club.

Bruce has a good relationship with Beveridge and was brought to the Saints by Dogs chief executive Ameet Bains when he was at Seaford. 

Originally published as Josh Bruce wants to play a role in the Western Bulldogs’ push for top four in 2020 and beyond

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